Helicopter to be used in counting Olympic National Park goats

PORT ANGELES — The National Park Service plans to use a helicopter in counting the number of mountain goats in Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest.

The Peninsula Daily News reports the helicopter is scheduled to take off Monday for the survey that could take up to 10 days, depending on flying weather.

Wildlife biologists are trying to improve management of the goats after one aggressive animal gored a Port Angeles hiker to death last October. Last week the park advised hikers to urinate at least 200 feet from trails to avoid attracting goats that lick urine deposits for salt and minerals.

In the last survey in 2004, the population of mountain goats in the park was estimated at around 300 animals.

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Information from: Peninsula Daily News, http://www.peninsuladailynews.com

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